Electric terminal equipment



Nov. 27, 1928. 7

- F. MAcKINTosH ELECTRIC TERMINAL EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 1 5, 1927 a A M III I Invent0r-:

Frederick MaOkLhtOsh.

H'Ls Attorney.

Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK MACKINTOSH, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OFV NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC TERMINAL EQUIPMENT.

Application filed December 13, 1927. Serial No. 239,783.

My invention relates to terminal equipment for panels, for switchboards, and the like. More particularly the invention relates to that type of terminal equipment which is especially adapted for cross-connecting pur poses.

Heretofore such equipment has been made in the form of standard units. This construction has had the objection that units of intermediate sizes were unavailable. It is one of theobjects of my invention to provide.

of the device that will enable the units to be I interlocked in the panel and bolted together into a rugged structure which is not likely to bedisturbed or twisted out of shape when thrown about in the course of ordinary assembly, shipment and use. The invention and its several objects will be more readily understood and perceived from the following specification and claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 shows a section of a switchboard provided with a panel of assembled units having the features of the invention. In this figure the board and its elements are shown in perspective from the front. In this figure the board is broken and the panel is broken to indicate that the length of the panel is variable. Fig. 2 shows one of the terminal elements with the terminal screws removed, and it also shows one of the interlocking plates, as well as the interlocking bolts; this figure isalso shown in perspective. .Fig. 3 shows the metal terminal base of one of the units removed from the insulating material'in which it is imbedded (see Fig. 2). Fig. 4 shows a panel of assembled unit terminals as viewed from the rear.

Referring more in detail to the drawing it will be seen that each unit consists of a formed insulating body or cleat 2. This body may be of any suit-able insulating mate rial that may be suitably formed about a m tal erm al e ement 3, see Fig. 3. The

body may be in the form of a cleat. The form of the element 3 indicated in Fig. 3 should be such that the insulating material will form about it and effectively lock it in its imbedded location, as indicated in Fig. 2.

As indicated in the drawings, the element 3 isprovided with suitable threaded holes 5 and 6 for receiving the terminal screws such as the screws 7 and 8, Fig. 1. From Fig. 2 it will be seen that one side of the element 2 is provided with a raised portion 9. In connection with the element 2 I provide a plate 10 of any suitable insulating material, which plate has a cutaway portion 11 along the rear central portion so formed that when the plate 10 is brought up against the element 2 the raised portion 9 fits in the cutaway portion 11 thereby locking the two elements 10 and 11 with respect to each other, as far as rotation is concerned, about an axis transverse these elements. Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the element 12 corresponds with the element 2 of Fig. 2 and that the element 13 corresponds with the element 10. As indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, there is provided a pair of rods 14 and 15 which thread all of the plates such as 13, 14*, 15*, etc., each plate being provided with suitable perforations, such as perforations 16 and 17, for this purpose. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 the bindingrods, such as the rods 14 and 15, extend along shoulders, such as the shoulders 18 and 19 of theelement 2, Fig. 2, engaging, or very nearly engaging, the surface of the element 2 along the shoulders. This effectively prevents the units from rotating and therefore serves to assist the clamping operation of the plate 10. In order to complete the panel of units, metal plates 20 and 21 serving as head plates are provided at each end of the panel. When the elements thus described are properly assembled along the rods 14 and 15 they are all clamped into a unitary structure by means of thenuts 22 and 23. After the panelis thus assembled it may be secured to the board 24 by means of screws 25 (see Fig. 1) for the purpose of which the end plates 20 are provided with openings or slots as indicated. Obviously therefore I provide means for assembling the units into panels of any desired length.

The improved construction also enables me to provide panels of the above character which are very simple in form, cheap to produce, rugged in structure and effective in operation. It also enables me to provide panels which are readily assembled and secured as units of different lengths to the board.

It will be seen therefore that each unit is provided wit-h a block of metal (see Fig. 3) in the form of a cleat which is imbedded in the insulating material 2, Fig.2, and that the units are separated by plates of insulating material which project beyond said units and which form spaces in front of the units into separate stalls as shown in Fig. 1. It will also be seen, of course, that each cleat of insulating material 2, Fig. 2, is formed with a shoulder and with arms, the shoulder being inserted between the clamping rods and the arms extending beyond the rods. 'ith the construction shown therefore the rods preventthe plates 10 from turning, the plates in turn are in locked engagement with the cleats 2, which are bridged across the clamping rods, the whole being clamped together between the plates 20 and 21 by means of nuts on the ends of the clamping rods.

It will be understood that whereas I have described my invention in connection with a specific form of apparatus shown in the drawing and described, I do not wish to be limited to such specific structure inasmuch as in view of the disclosure variations may readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims contained herein. For example, instead of providing the elements 2 with shoulders such as the shoulders 18 and 19 along which the rods 14 and 15 may extend, the elements 2 may be formed in the shape of a square with suitable perforations so that the elements 2 may be threaded along the rods 14 and 15. I find, however, that the .form of structure shown in Fig. 2 may be more speedily assembled inasmuch as only the plates 10 may be threaded over the rods 14 and 15. In 4 I have shown the type of structure in which both the elements 10 and 2 are threaded along the rods 26 and 27. which correspond with the rods 14 and 15. It is evident that the end elements 28 and 29, Fig. 4. correspond with the end elements 20 and 21, Fig. 2, except that the elements 28 and 29 are provided with a pair of slots each for screwing the panel to the board instead of 'one as in Fig. 1. For example, also, strips of insulating material may be extended along the front of the panel, Fig. 1, one strip being secured to the head pieces 20 and 21 by means of the screws 30 and 31 and another piece parallel thereto by means of the screws 32 and 33. In between Mr mmwimmmmammuW..W.... M. .1

these insulating strips a third strip, preferably of white material, may be inserted and suitably secured in place for the purpose of identifying numerals for each one of the terminals. I

Also with reference to the metal element, Fig. 3, the form of this elementmy be Varied provided the variation is not such as to make it impossible to form the insulating material around the metal body. For example, instead of the face of the metal being continuous between the holes 5 and 6 along the plane of the face, the element may be made U-shaped with one hole 5 made in-one terminal of the U and with the other hole 6 made in the other terminal of the U. lVith this construction the insulating material would be formed between the legs of the U.

'hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A panel of terminal elements adapted to be used for cross-connecting circuit conductors, said panel having a number of units each consisting of a metalelement imbedded in a block or cleat of insulating material with the element exposed, said cleatsbeing separated by plates of insulating material, said plates projecting beyond the cleats and separating the spacings in front of the metal element into separate. stalls, each panel being clamped. together by rods extending transverse the panel, said plates and said cleats being formed to interlock one with the other.

2. A panel of terminal elements adapted to be used for cross-connecting circuit conductors, said panel having a number of units each consisting of a metal element imbedded in a block or cleat of insulating material, said cleat being separated by plates of insulating material, said plates projecting beyond the cleats and separating the spacing in front of the metal elements into separate stalls, each panel being clamped together by rods extending transverse the panel, said plates and said cleats being formed to interlock one with the other, said cleats having each arms and a shoulder extending across said rods, the shoulders of the cleats projecting between the rods.

3. A panel of circuit terminals consisting of a plurality of metal terminal elements, insulating material formed about the sides and back of each of said elements to form a unit having a shoulder and arms, plates of insu lating material interposed between and projecting beyond said units to form stalls in front of said units, said cleats and plates being assembled in interlocking engagement, said cleats and plates being clamped together by rods extending transverse the panel, the shoulders of the cleats being interposed between the rods and the arms of the cleats bridging said rods.

1. A panel of circuit terminals consisting of a plurality of metal terminal elements. in

sulating material formed about the sides and cleats being interposed between the rods and 10 back of each of said elements to form a unit the arms of the cleats bridging said rods, and with a shoulder and projecting arms, plates metal reinforcing plates between which said of insulating material interposed between panel is interposed, the ends of said rods pro- 5 and projecting beyond said units to form jecting through said metal plates, and nuts stalls in front of said units, said cleats and for clamping the panel between said plates. 15

plates being formed and assembled to inter- In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my lock and clamped together by rods extendhand this 9th day of December, 1927. ing transverse the panel, the shoulders of the FREDERICK MACKINTOSH.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,693,303. Granted November 27. 1928, to

FREDERICK MACKINTOSH.

It is hereby/certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, lines 95 and 107, claims I and 2, respectively, strike out the word "each" and insert instead the words "the elements of the"; same page, line 112, claim 2, after the word "shoulder" insert the comma and wordssaid arms"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of February, A. D. 1929.

I M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

